November 2007 | Posted in • Life | (0) Comments |
If asked, “What are you thankful for?” many people might express thankfulness for food, a home, health, a job, a car, family members, or clothes, without really giving it much thought. If we stop and think about it,
What is thankfulness?
Thankfulness is one of the first social graces that we teach our children. As we hand a toy to a tot, we say, “Thank you,” soliciting a repeat of the same. We continue to prompt and train verbalizations of gratefulness into our self-centered children so that they will learn some semblance of giving thanks. And aren’t we pleased when they finally display unexpected gratitude!
Thankfulness is an attitude of the heart that acknowledges the charity, the undeserved goodness, graciously extended towards it. True thankfulness never feels that the benevolence is owed. It is a humble recognition that we have received something outside of ourselves into our lives. From the very beginning of creation, our loving God extended Himself into creation. From the foundation of the world, He made and He gave.
From the Old Testament through the Book of Revelation, the Bible is full of thanksgiving or ‘giving of thanks.’ There was the sacrifice of thanksgiving in Leviticus 7:12-16, and a peace offering and thanksgiving to the Lord God in 2 Chronicles 30:22. There were prayers of thanksgiving (Nehemiah 11:17), songs of thanksgiving (12:8), hymns of thanksgiving with accompaniment (12:27), and proclamations of thanksgiving with the voice (Psalm 26:7).
Thanksgiving was expressed to God to “make His deeds known among the peoples” (1 Chronicles 16:8), to declare His salvation (vs. 35: “gather us and deliver us from the nations to give thanks to Your Holy name”), to tell of all His wonders (Psalm 9:1), and to declare that “He is good for His loving kindness is everlasting” (1 Chronicles 16:34). Jesus Himself gave thanks to the Father when He broke bread to feed His disciples (John 6:11), and He thanked the Father for hearing Him when He prayed (11:41).
Unthankfulness is evident when our attitudes are flippant or unappreciative. We can actually tout an air of ingratitude by entertaining thoughts such as “I deserve…” or “I am owed…” or by whining, “It’s not fair!” Complaining expressions like “I don’t have…” or “If I had…” or even “I wish…” are full of self-pity, comparison, and lack. Each of these focuses on self rather than on the giver. Romans 1:21 reveals the outcome of the ungrateful: “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
Sometimes we have to bring our thoughts “captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus” (2 Corinthians 10:5) in order to dwell on those things that are “worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8) and to take stock of what we really have been given; then we can properly respond to the Giver with gratefulness. This is what makes it a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” at times. Giving thanks opens up our hearts and can purge away bitterness and self-pity.
Just like we instill “Thank you” into our toddlers, gratefulness is nurtured. Possibly this is why Holy Spirit exhorts us in the ‘giving of thanks’ 147 times in the Bible (Amplified). Note the emphasis here on the verb give. Just like Father God gave His only begotten Son Jesus to us because He loved us (John 3:16), we are to give thanks to Him because we love Him, and He is worthy of our thanksgiving. “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
Let us be full of thanks, “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20) Let us also: “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
And as a finale, when we proclaim with our mouths the gratefulness that is in our hearts, we are in unison with those who are declaring the Kingdom of God coming on earth as it is in Heaven. “We give Thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast, because Thou hast taken Thy great power and hast begun to reign.” (Rev.11:17)
What more need we be thankful for!?
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